Kobe Bryant Jersey Dominates European Market for 2nd Consecutive Year

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Kobe Bryant Jersey Dominates European Market for 2nd Consecutive Year

2 October 2009 143 views No Comment

Four-time NBA Champion and 2008-09 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant has retained his status as the top-selling NBA jersey in Europe, a title he also held for the 2007-08 season.

For the second straight year, the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is the best-selling jersey in Europe, according to a list released by the NBA and gathered by surveying retail locations in Europe for the 2008-09 season. >> CNBC’s Sports Biz w/ Darren Rovell

Considering Bryant’s enormous popularity in China during the 2008 Summer Olympics, it’s not really a surprise to see him dominating the European region as well. Many fans based in the United States have a love/hate relationship with Kobe (you either love him or you hate him), while overseas, he’s generally reveered as one of the game’s greats – there is little negativity or ‘hate’ thrown his direction.

The list of the Top 15 NBA Jerseys in Europe for 2008-09 season

Perhaps the most surprising name on the Top 15 list is the Bulls’ Joakim Noah. Althought Noah was born in the United States, he is of French/Swedish decent, which would explain why Europeans are buying his jersey. Considering his play, however, someone might want to check what’s in the water over there…

By my count (& I could be wrong), 7 of the Top 15 are of European decent (more directly than Noah). So NBA players born in the United States are still more popular – including 6 of the Top 10. Not too surprising, especially considering that 4 of the Top 5 are legitimate MVP candidates each year – Bryant, Garnett, James & Wade. Their exposure on TV and through various marketing channels both national & internationally helps maintain/grow their popularity.